A shooting at Silver Rail Elementary School in Bend, Oregon, left several people injured and victims included children, police said. The suspected attacker was found dead on the school grounds.
Media reports citing law-enforcement sources said 3 children and 1 adult died. Officials had not immediately clarified whether the reported death toll included the suspected attacker, leaving the total number of deaths unresolved.
The shooting happened on Thursday at around afternoon 1:00 local time. Bend is in central Oregon, about 280 kilometres southeast of Portland.
Police response and investigation
Bend police said an initial emergency call reported that an unidentified person had fired at a car at the school. Officers arrived within seconds and found the suspected attacker dead from a gunshot wound.
Police said the suspected attacker may have been shot by an armed person. Sheila Miller, a police department spokesperson, said investigators had not determined who fired the shot that caused the suspect's death.
Two injured people were taken to hospital, police said. Their condition was not available at that time. Police later confirmed online that several people had been injured and that children were among the victims.
Authorities did not release detailed information about the victims' identities or conditions. Investigators were examining what happened before the shooting, the circumstances of the attack and how the suspected attacker died.
About the school
Silver Rail Elementary School serves children from kindergarten through fifth grade. Children in those classes are usually between 5 and 11 years old.
The police spokesperson said the school has about 450 students and 40 staff members. Investigators were still working to establish the full sequence of events, while further information about the victims remained pending.
Conclusion
The verified information indicates that the Bend elementary school shooting caused several injuries, including among children. Media reports identified 3 children and 1 adult among the dead, while police had not clarified whether the suspected attacker was included in that figure.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Where did the shooting happen?
It happened at Silver Rail Elementary School in Bend, Oregon.
Q. When did the shooting occur?
The shooting occurred on Thursday at around afternoon 1:00 local time.
Q. How many people were reported dead?
Media reports said 3 children and 1 adult died. Officials had not clarified whether that figure included the suspected attacker.
Q. Was the suspected attacker found alive?
No. Police found the suspected attacker dead at the school.
Q. Were people injured?
Yes. Police said several people were injured, including children. Two injured people were taken to hospital.
Q. How large is the school community?
The school has about 450 students and 40 staff members, according to the police spokesperson.
